[Maringa]

I wonder if this some "payback" from the current ruling body in Afghanistan. Since we have been coordinating targets with the Northern Alliance, they could have "purposely" provided misinformation to the US military saying that these are hostile targets, knowing full well that they are rival leaders that they want eliminated. They can also deflect criticism by saying that the US killed them rather than them.

[Azzurri]

Or, this could be "payback" by the United States to the tribal leaders who sold us out in Tora Bora and allowed Bin Laden and Al Qaeda to escape.